The Denver Broncos’ home crowd was not always happy with what it saw against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but Sean Payton made sure to give Broncos Country plenty of credit after a thrilling 28-24 win.

Fans at Empower Field at Mile High let their frustration be known in the third quarter, when Denver’s offense managed just nine yards and boos rained down after a failed third down. Payton did not hold that against them.

“There’s that noise after a failed third-down, but we’re still with you,” Payton said, via DenverSports.com. “I think this is a wonderful home crowd. You feel their disappointment with that reaction, as much as anything else, and it’s pro sports. But man, it’s a special place. It’s something else. They won us the game tonight.”

The crowd had a direct hand in the final result. Denver trailed 24-13 entering the fourth quarter before storming back, with rookie running back Jonah Coleman scoring with 1:56 remaining to give the Broncos a 28-24 lead.

The Chiefs still had a chance to steal it, driving to the Denver 1-yard line in the closing seconds. After an incomplete pass and a stuffed run by Kenneth Walker, Kansas City faced fourth-and-goal with four seconds left. That is when the noise took over, as Chiefs offensive lineman Jaylon Moore was flagged for a false start that pushed the ball back to the 6.

Malcolm Roach then sacked Patrick Mahomes on the final play to seal the win.

“If you could tangibly point to a crowd win, if you could tangibly point and say the false start,” Payton said. “I mean, just from a play-caller’s standpoint, the one to the six, and you’re in another zip code with plays. That was huge.”

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Empower Field has been a fortress for Denver. The Broncos improved to 4-0 at home this season and are 12-1 there since the start of 2025, the best regular-season home mark in the league over that span.

The win also gave Denver some revenge after a 31-10 loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 1. It also marked the 200th career win for Payton, including playoffs, and at 6-2, the Broncos now sit atop the AFC West.

Denver will look to keep rolling when it visits the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.